The Kingston Trio was formed in 1957 in the Palo Alto, California area by original lineup of Dave Guard (1934–1991), Bob Shane (1934–2020), and Nick Reynolds (1933–2008), who were just out of college. Greatly influenced by The Weavers, the calypso sounds of Harry Belafonte, and other semi-popular folk artists such as the Gateway Singers and the Tarriers, they were discovered playing at a college club called the Cracked Pot by Frank Werber, a local publicist then working at the Hungry i. He became their manager, and secured them a one-shot deal with Capitol Records.
Their first hit was a catchy rendition of an old-time folk song, "Tom Dooley", which went gold in 1958. It was so popular that it entered popular culture as a catchphrase: Ella Fitzgerald, for example, parodies it during her recorded version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". It won them the first Grammy award for Best Country & Western Performance in 1959. The next year, they won the first Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording category for the album The Kingston Trio at Large.
At one point in the early 1960s The Kingston Trio had four albums at the same time among the Top 10 selling albums, a record unmatched for nearly 40 years. In spite of this, they had a relatively small number of hit singles.
The group's music was simple and accessible, with much use of tight vocal harmony, signature riffs (often played on the banjo), and repetitive choruses. Capitol producer Voyle Gilmore[1] enhanced their vocal sound to great effect with reverb and the relatively new process of doubletracking, in which the performers sang along with their own pre-recorded part to produce a stronger sound than with a single voice, in part due to a natural time gap of a fraction of a second between the original recording and the overdubbed part. At first pairs of tape recorders were used, then later multitrack recording machines, to produce the effect.
Guard left the band in 1961 as part of a disagreement over its musical direction. He formed the group Whiskey Hill Singers, and was replaced by John Stewart, who led the group through several more years of popularity until the arrival of The Beatles and British invasion rock bands pushed them from the charts.
In 1967 the Trio disbanded after a final performance at the Hungry i, June 17, 1967.
Shane, the lone member to resist the break-up of the Trio, started a new group, aptly named, "The New Kingston Trio," in 1969. Eventually, Shane was successful in reaching a contractual agreement with his former partners, Guard, Reynolds, and Werber, to secure and license once again, the original name, "The Kingston Trio" (unencumbered by the adjective new), in 1976.(Blake et al. 1986.) Shane still owns the property today, 2006.
For a number of years in the 1980s Reynolds, one of the original three members, rejoined Shane.
In 2004 Shane retired from the group due to health problems. He was replaced by Bill Zorn, who had been with Shane in an iteration of the group called The New Kingston Trio; Zorn also has been a member of The Limeliters.
In 2005 Bobby Haworth (a one-time member of The Brothers Four) left the group to be replaced by Rick Dougherty, who also had been a member of The Limeliters.
As of 2006, The Kingston Trio consisted of George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty.
in October 2017, Grove, Zorn, and Dougherty were replaced as the Trio by new licensees Reynolds and Marvin and their friend, Tim Gorelangton. In 2018, Josh Reynolds left the group and was replaced by Bob Haworth, who became a member of the band for the third time. At the end of 2018, Haworth left the group and was replaced by Don Marovich.
Dooley
The Kingston Trio Lyrics
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Written about the eternal triangle
This next one tells the story of a Mr. Grayson,
A beautiful woman, and a condemned man named Tom Dooley
When the sun rises tomorrow, Tom Dooley must hang
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry
Poor boy, you're bound to die
I met her on the mountain, there I took her life
Met her on the mountain, stabbed her with my knife
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (ah-uh-eye)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die
This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
Hadn't-a been for Grayson, I'd-a been in Tennessee (well now, boy)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Hang down your head and cry (ah poor boy, ah well-ah)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Poor boy, you're bound to die (ah well now boy)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Hang down your head and cry (ah poor boy, ah well-ah)
Hang down (your head) your head (Dooley) and cry
Poor boy, you're bound to die
This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
Down in some lonesome valley hangin' from a white oak tree
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (ah-uh-eye)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die (ah well now boy)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Hang down your head and cry (poor boy ah well uh)
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Poor boy, you're bound to die
The Kingston Trio's "Tom Dooley" tells the story of a man named Tom Dooley, who has been condemned to hang for the murder of a woman he met on the mountain. The song suggests that Dooley was involved in a love triangle with a man named Mr. Grayson, who presumably had feelings for the same woman. The lyrics describe Dooley's impending execution and his regret for taking another's life. The refrain, "Hang down your head, Tom Dooley" repeatedly emphasizes the tragic fate that awaits him.
Line by Line Meaning
Throughout history there have been many songs
This song is just one of many throughout history that tells the story of a love triangle with a deadly outcome.
Written about the eternal triangle
This song specifically tells the story of a man, a woman, and a condemned man named Tom Dooley.
This next one tells the story of a Mr. Grayson,
The song tells the story of a love triangle involving a man named Grayson.
A beautiful woman, and a condemned man named Tom Dooley
The love triangle involves a beautiful woman and a condemned man named Tom Dooley.
When the sun rises tomorrow, Tom Dooley must hang
Tom Dooley will be executed tomorrow and must face the consequences of his actions.
Hang down your head, Tom Dooley
Tom Dooley should feel shame for what he has done.
Hang down your head and cry
Tom Dooley should show remorse for his actions by crying.
I met her on the mountain, there I took her life
Tom Dooley admits to killing the woman in the love triangle on the mountain.
Met her on the mountain, stabbed her with my knife
Tom Dooley killed the woman by stabbing her with his knife.
This time tomorrow reckon where I'll be
Tom Dooley knows he will be dead by this time tomorrow.
Hadn't-a been for Grayson, I'd-a been in Tennessee (well now, boy)
Tom Dooley blames Grayson for his situation and claims he would have been in Tennessee if it weren't for him.
Down in some lonesome valley hangin' from a white oak tree
Tom Dooley knows he will be hanged and will die alone in a desolate place.
Poor boy, you're bound to die
Tom Dooley is facing imminent death and is helpless to prevent it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alan Lomax, Frank Warner, John A. Lomax
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind